A Career in HR: From Intern to Senior Manager

If you’re looking for an office role with a focus on organising the workforce, a career in Human Resources might be exactly what you’re searching for. Depending on the size of the company and whether you choose to become a generalist or specialist, your main responsibilities may encompass hiring staff, providing training and development, looking after pay, benefits, and welfare, and giving advice on employment law. You will need to have tact and a thick skin to work in HR, as sensitive issues will arise (such as redundancy). Despite these challenges, a career in HR can offer you plenty of opportunities to grow and contribute to a crucial aspect of the business: finding and hiring top Talent. We’ve gathered examples of positions from HR Intern all the way to Senior HR Manager to show what your career progression could look like.

HR Intern – The Gresham Hotel

Looking for your first step towards a career in HR? An internship position can provide you with a great starting point to learn more about the field. This position at the Gresham Hotel does not require previous experience, just a genuine interest in HR and knowledge of Microsoft Office and office admin.

HR Projects Administration Intern – The Doyle Collection

HR Projects Administration Intern – The Doyle Collection

This 3-month internship will provide you with experience across a range of HR functions including maintaining personnel files, assisting in employee relations, and rebranding HR collateral. You’ll need to hold a third level qualification in HRM or be working towards a CIPD accreditation. HR positions will also typically require strong communication and interpersonal skills.

HR Administrator – Core Media

After gaining initial experience, an HR Administrator position might be your next step up. HR Administrators work alongside the HR team to ensure that a high-quality service is provided, to support all stages of the recruitment process, and to implement HR policies and practices. Your day-to-day duties would include maintaining files, coordinating training, and updating the system with training records. To qualify for this position at Core Media, you’d need at least 1 year of experience in a similar role.

HR and Recruitment Administrator – BetBright

HR and Recruitment Administrator – BetBright

Similar to the previous position, as an HR Administrator at BetBright, you will coordinate the recruitment processes and all new joiners and leavers of the organisation. Maintaining employee records and documentation, administering benefits, and filing HR documents are also be under your remit. You’ll need 1 year of previous HR/recruitment experience, as well as have an HR qualification or be working towards obtaining one. While not a requirement, a knowledge of Irish employment law will give you an edge.

HR Advisor – Noonan

HR Advisors at Noonan are responsible for (you guessed it) advising, guiding, and supporting supervisors on HR and employment law issues, including ensuring that the company is legally protected in employee-related matters. You’ll need an in-depth understanding of employment law and HR processes and policies. As with all the previous roles, a superb attention to detail and strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

Recruitment and Training Manager – Brandface

A Recruitment and Training Manager is someone who can be both a top headhunter and an inspirational trainer. At Brandface, you will be required to source the right people required by clients and secure them in the Talent database. Following this, you will train and monitor staff performance and manage their attendance and payroll. A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar field is required.

Human Resources Executive – Bord Bia

As an HR Exec at Bord Bia, you will implement best practice HR systems, procedures, and processes within the HR Department. You will place graduates in overseas markets, manage work experience placements, and deal with temporary staffing requirements. To qualify for this role, you’ll need a Degree or Diploma Level Qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. business or HR), to be CIPD affiliated, and have 5+ years of HR generalist experience.

Human Resources Manager – PEI

Moving up the ladder, an HR Manager will develop and drive the HR plan at all levels of the business, from performance management and succession planning to employee development and training events. For this position at PEI, you would need 7+ years of HR experience (2+ at management level), a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Psychology, or a related field, and be a chartered member of the CIPD. Excellent leadership and an ability to think strategically are also key to being successful in this position.

Senior Human Resources Manager – Perigord

A further step up, as a Senior HR Manager you’d be required to have not only extensive HR knowledge but also experience performing as part of a senior leadership team and influencing business decisions. At Perigord, your duties include implementing a defined HR structure, coaching management on issues relating to performance, development, retention, introducing new initiatives to improve the performance of the company, amongst many other crucial tasks. Interested in more details? Click here to find out what it’s like to be a Global HR Manager for a top media company in our interview with Mergermarket Group’s Lauren Greaves.